First time candidate J.C. Romero is headed to the December 5th runoff against incumbent School Board member, Leslie Ellison, who Gambit recently described as “virulently anti-LGBT.” Dr. J.C. Romero has racked up impressive endorsements from influential Democratic leaders across the city, including Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Councilmembers Helena Moreno and Kristin Palmer, the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee (OPDEC), the Forum for Equality, the Black Organization for Leadership Development (BOLD), LGBTQ Victory Fund, the Independent Women’s Organization (IWO), and the Alliance for Good Government. He is proud to have so much support from strong institutional leaders as a first time, grassroots candidate.
J.C. Romero is a longtime educator whose passion is for expanding access to education for students in New Orleans. He aims to ensure that students have access to the resources they need. Examples of this access include more school choice so that students can go to schools that best suit them, more resources for students with special education needs, and more strong schools and educational resources on the Westbank, ensuring that no student has to cross the bridge to access an excellent education. He wants to empower teachers and educators with the resources to support students holistically, contributing to the end of the school-to-prison pipeline in New Orleans. J.C. Romero believes that it is time to frame education quality and access as a criminal justice issue.
The son of a single mother who immigrated here from Nicaragua, J.C. was once a high school dropout, but he found his love of education through working with communities in recovery. Now, he has earned a Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate in education, and has worked as a teacher and as an administrator here in New Orleans and around the world. He never thought he would run for school board, but he felt called to help his community. He is also a proud gay man running against Leslie Ellison, an incumbent with a public anti-LGBTQ+ record. Ellison is a controversial figure due to her long history of opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. J.C., on the other hand, stands for the right of every student to be respected and welcomed in the classroom.
New Orleans’ school system presents novel challenges that require innovative solutions based on dedication and experience. As a longtime educator and administrator with a doctorate in education, J.C. Romero is uniquely qualified to take on these challenges.
